Geranium plant named &#39;grapink&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Grapink’ particularly characterized by the combined features of star-shaped, bluish-pink and white, single-type flowers; umbrella-shaped umbels,; floriferous with medium sized inflorescence; medium green, fan-shaped leaves with very strong zonation; medium vigor, freely branched, dense plant habit; and mid season spring flowering response.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier (hybrid)

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Grapink’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Grapink’.

‘Grapink’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new stellar-type geranium cultivars in various flower colors, in combination with early flowering, zoned foliage, and about medium sized, rounded and well-branched plant habit.

‘Grapink’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor, Angelika Utecht, in a controlled breeding program in Hillscheid, Germany, in 1999. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid plant, No. 88-396-3, and was characterized by having red, single, so-called “stellar”-type flowers, medium green foliage with strong zonation, and relatively compact plant habit. The male parent of ‘Grapink’ was the unpatented commercial variety ‘Shalimar’, and was characterized as stellar-type, having light salmon, single-type flowers, relatively large inflorescence, leaves with strong zonation, and tall plant habit.

‘Grapink’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Angelika Utecht in 2000 in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Grapink’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the fall of 2000 in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under the supervision of, Angelika Utecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in May of 2001, in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuing, has demonstrated 2001 that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Grapink’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Grapink’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Grapink’ in combination distinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. bluish-pink and white, stellar-type flowers with narrow petals;

2. floriferous with medium sized inflorescence;

3. medium-green leaves with strong zonation;

4. freely branched, dense plant habit; medium vigor, and

5. mid season spring flowering response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Grapink’ is the unpatented parental variety ‘Shalimar’. In comparison to ‘Shalimar’, ‘Grapink’ has a deeper pink flower color, smaller umbels, shorter peduncles, and generally less tall plant habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Grapink’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a side perspective view of a flowering potted plant of ‘Grapink’ with leaves, buds and inflorescences.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, in mid May, 11 weeks after planting of rooted cuttings. The plants were growing in 14 cm pots, they had not been pinched.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determined indoors from plants growing in a green-house in May 2003 in Hillscheid, Germany.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Male parent.—‘Shalimar’, unpatented commercial variety.         -   Female parent.—Unpatented, hybrid plant No. 88-396-3. -   Classification: Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier (hybrid). -   Propagation: Vegetative cuttings. -   Inflorescence: -   Umbel:     -   -   Shape.—Umbrella-shape.         -   Average diameter.—83 mm.         -   Average depth.—43 mm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 25. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Peduncle length.—138 mm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—3 mm.         -   Peduncle color.—Light green, RHS 143 C, partly with a slight             tinge of brown (greyed-orange), RHS 177 B. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Pedicel length.—21 mm in length, a spur may be visible.         -   Pedicel diameter.—1.5 mm.         -   Pedicel color.—Greyed-red, RHS 180 A. -   Corolla:     -   -   Average diameter.—32 mm.         -   Depth.—About 10 mm.         -   Form.—Single-type.         -   Shape.—Star-shaped, zygomorphic, with narrow petals, not             overlapping.         -   Number of petals.—5.         -   Number of petaloids.—None. -   Petals:     -   -   Shape of petals.—upper petals: narrow elliptical, lower             petals rhomboid, with acute base and acuminate tips, upper             petals may be deeply divided.         -   Size of petals.—Upper petals: 17-18 mm long, 7-9 mm wide;             lower petals: 17 mm long, 8 mm wide.         -   Margin of petals.—Lower part entire; the tip may appear             dentate or even deeper incised or divided; and lower petals:             weakly crenate.         -   Color (general tonality from a distance of three             meters).—Pink and white.         -   Color of upper petals.—Lower and middle part very light             red-purple, RHS 69 B, tips red-purple, from RHS 68A to 68 B.         -   Markings of upper petals.—Fine red-purple veins, RHS 68 A.         -   Color of lower petals.—Pink (light red-purple), uniform, RHS             62 A.         -   Markings of lower petals.—None.         -   Color of lower surface of petals.—Red-purple, RHS 68 B with             veins red-purple, RHS 68 A. -   Sepals:     -   -   Color of sepals.—Both surfaces: light green, RHS 143 C; near             the bases greyed-red, RHS 180 A.         -   Number of sepals.—5.         -   Shape of sepals.—Ensiform, acute tip, fused base, surface             with very short pubescence, margin entire.         -   Size of sepals.—8 mm long, 3 mm wide for the largest upper             sepal, 2 mm in width for the other sepals. -   Bud (just prior to petals unfolding):     -   -   Shape.—Narrow, elliptical.         -   Color of sepals.—Light green, RHS 143 C.         -   Color of petals.—Red-purple, approximately RHS 58 B.         -   Length.—11 mm.         -   Width.—5 mm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—5-7 fertile anthers, moderate pollen,             orange-red, RHS 30 A, filaments white, RHS 155 D, to             light-pink, RHS 52 D.         -   Gynoecium.—One pistil, reddish-purple style and stigma, RHS             58 B, 5-lobed stigma.         -   Fertility/seed set.—No seed set observed. -   Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2003     plants had on average 0.6 flowers opened 9 weeks after planting of     rooted cuttings. -   Outdoor flower production: Continuously and rich flowering, the     flower count in 2003 in Hillscheid, Germany, indicated about 15     inflorescences per plant in late summer. -   Durability: Fair stability of flower color, little fading, good rain     resistance. -   Lastingness of the individual flower: About 7-8 days at 18° C. -   Fragrance: None. -   Plant: -   Foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Semi-circular to flabellate, apex rounded with             distinct lobes, base truncate or obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire near the base, dentate at the tips of lobes.         -   Texture.—Upper surface smooth, slightly glossy.         -   Size of leaf.—90 mm wide, 50 mm long.         -   Color of upper surface.—Medium green, RHS 143 B.         -   Color of zonation.—Strong, brown (greyed-orange), about RHS             166 A.         -   Color of lower surface.—Green, RHS 143 B at the tips; RHS             143 C in the middle and lower part of the leaf.         -   Petioles.—70-95 mm long, 2-3 mm diameter, light green in             color, approximately RHS 143 B. -   General appearance and form:     -   -   Stem color.—Mainly light green, RHS 143 C; partly slightly             brownish (greyed-red) infused, RHS 179 B         -   Internode length.—5-10 mm.         -   Branching pattern.—15.5 branches.         -   Size of plants.—Height: 14.5 cm, Spread: 25.6 cm (11             week-old plants, as described, measured from the top of the             soil (base of the main stem) to the surface of the foliage             canopy, without inflorescences). 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Grapink’, as described and illustrated herein. 